Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .223 Rem. with .224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB bullet and 20 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are ReloadSwiss RS 36, IMR 4227 and ADI AR 2207.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,240 psi | 90% | 3556 fps | 96.7% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,037 psi | 87% | 3570 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 86% | 48,907 psi | 89% | 3501 fps | 100% |
| ADI AR 2207ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,211 psi | 89% | 3704 fps | 99.6% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,023 psi | 89% | 3629 fps | 97.3% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,558 psi | 52% | 2356 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 43,497 psi | 79% | 3527 fps | 96.3% |
| IMR 4227 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,776 psi | 87% | 3583 fps | 98.5% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,197 psi | 89% | 3655 fps | 97.3% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 3606 fps | 97.5% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 94% | 49,023 psi | 89% | 3606 fps | 100% |
| Norma 200ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 46,267 psi | 84% | 3625 fps | 97.1% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 28,137 psi | 51% | 2411 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | <<locked>> | 92% | 47,268 psi | 86% | 3606 fps | 98.4% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 82% | 48,820 psi | 89% | 3606 fps | 97.5% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 86% | 49,197 psi | 89% | 3655 fps | 97.3% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 84% | 46,760 psi | 85% | 3530 fps | 97.6% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 98% | 49,617 psi | 90% | 3458 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 88% | 47,979 psi | 87% | 3540 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 49,298 psi | 90% | 3652 fps | 100% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 24"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 1680 | <<locked>> | 90% | 43,149 psi | 78% | 3432 fps | 95.1% |
| Accurate No. 11 FS | <<locked>> | 80% | 44,353 psi | 81% | 3497 fps | 99% |
| ADI AR 2205 | <<locked>> | 80% | 40,741 psi | 74% | 3337 fps | 99.5% |
| ADI AR 2207 | 20.3 gr | 86% | 31,256 psi | 57% | 3274 fps | 95.5% |
| Alliant Reloder-7 | <<locked>> | 92% | 40,756 psi | 74% | 3448 fps | 95.1% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,755 psi | 38% | 2123 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4198 | <<locked>> | 98% | 41,394 psi | 75% | 3474 fps | 95.6% |
| IMR 4227 | 18.9 gr | 82% | 34,998 psi | 64% | 3281 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D060 | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,031 psi | 75% | 3461 fps | 95.2% |
| Lovex D063 | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,672 psi | 83% | 3540 fps | 96.8% |
| Lovex S053 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,053 psi | 58% | 3209 fps | 97.7% |
| Norma 200 | <<locked>> | 96% | 40,509 psi | 74% | 3501 fps | 95.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 20,175 psi | 37% | 2162 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 36 | 20.6 gr | 84% | 36,347 psi | 66% | 3353 fps | 95.6% |
| Shooters World Blackout | <<locked>> | 80% | 45,672 psi | 83% | 3540 fps | 96.8% |
| Shooters World Buffalo Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,031 psi | 75% | 3461 fps | 95.2% |
| Shooters World SOCOM | <<locked>> | 80% | 41,002 psi | 75% | 3402 fps | 96.2% |
| SNPE Vectan BA6 1/2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,298 psi | 55% | 3064 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N110 | <<locked>> | 80% | 37,782 psi | 69% | 3337 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N120 | <<locked>> | 82% | 27,644 psi | 50% | 3117 fps | 95.2% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 20 powders for .223 Rem. loaded with the .224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB. ADI AR 2207 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 3,704 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 2,356 fps to 3,704 fps. ADI AR 2207 gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 20 of the 20 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (379 MPa), the top charges use 51–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. The 36.0 gr projectile in 0.224" calls for a 1:10.0 twist; slower twists will usually not stabilise this weight. ADI AR 2207, Hodgdon TrailBoss, IMR 4198 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. ReloadSwiss RS 36, IMR 4227, ADI AR 2207 rank at the top here: for .223 Rem. with the .224 | 36gr | Barnes Varmint Grenade FB they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.